Monsoon was weak during the entire month of June with parts of the country receiving deficient rainfall even up to 91 per cent in some areas of Gujarat.

Overall country received 98.1 mm rainfall as compared to 172 mm, which is 43 per cent less than normal, according to the Indian Meteorological Department. However, relief might be just days away as monsoon is expected to revive this month.

Central India and parts of Northwest India were worst-hit with Gujarat region recording 91 per cent less rainfall as compared to normal precipitation.

The region recorded 12.2 mm of rainfall as compared to expected rainfall of 138.5 mm in June. Similarly, the Kutch and Saurashtra regions received 22.6 mm of rainfall as compared to 91.6 mm, which is 75 per cent less.

Marathwada and Central Maharashtra regions also hardly received any rainfall recording 80 per cent and 71 per cent of deficient rainfall respectively.

Central Maharashtra recorded 44 mm of rainfall as compared to 151 mm of normal precipitation, while Marathwada has recorded just 30.4 mm of rainfall as compared to normal rainfall of 148.9 mm.

Similarly, several parts of Northwest India such as East Rajasthan, Uttarakhand and West Uttar Pradesh have received less rainfall in June.

The only respite is that the monsoon is likely to revive this month. "Southwest monsoon has further advanced over some more parts of Uttar Pradesh, entire Uttrakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, some parts of Haryana and Punjab."

"Heavy to very heavy rainfall would occur at isolated places over Sub-Himalayan West Bengal, Sikkim and Gangetic West Bengal. Heavy rainfall would occur at isolated places over Himachal Pradesh, Uttrakhand, Jharkhand, Bihar and Odisha," the IMD said.

"Weather in North India is expected to be less hot this week as Monsoon is lurking around Delhi and northern plains. The week will start with some rain in the plains as well as in the hills of Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand.

"Places along the foothills in Punjab will be cooler with maximums settling in the mid-thirties, Delhi may observe day temperatures settling between 37°C and 39°C," Skymet, a private forecasting agency has said, adding monsoon is expected to hit the region by July 5.

The western coast is also likely to receive good rainfall. "Tamil Nadu and coastal Andhra Pradesh which generally remain dry compared to the